Penn supervisors mum on Cove Mountain plan

A planner of the proposed Cove Mountain residential-housing development said he hopes to make amends with Penn Twp. supervisors.

At the board's Jan. 30 meeting, Craig Rahenkamp, an independent planner assisting landowner Windsor Companies, LLC of Freehold, N.J. with the proposed development, apologized to the board for comments made that were critical of the township's zoning ordinances.

"Those who made the comments are no longer involved in the project," Rahenkamp told the board. "Things were said that we sincerely regret.'

John Murphy, an engineer with Alpha Engineering, explained to the board and the approximately 100 residents in attendance what the proposal exactly entails.

Windsor Companies wants to build 949 residential units, consisting of apartments, townhouses and single-family homes. The housing would be spread over 255 acres of the 1,155 tract, and the remaining 900 would be preserved.

There would be three entry points into the development, and the development would feature a clubhouse and pool, as well as basketball and tennis courts.

The board declined to discuss the plan at the meeting, with Chairman Henry Holman stating he didn't "want to be put on the spot.'

Township solicitor P. Richard Wagner told the crowd that the presentation wouldn't result in the board putting a vote on the plan, but was more for informational purposes.

In other business, the board tabled a vote on putting a traffic light at Business Campus Road, along Route 274. Supervisor Randy Plummer will serve on the Cumberland and Perry Task Force, which will investigate where a traffic light should go. Secretary Helen Klinepeter said the two possible places are either in Penn Twp. or Carroll Twp.

Klinepeter said the board will need to update its floodplain ordinance. If the ordinance is not updated, consequences include no flood-plain insurance for the township, no mortgages and higher flood insurance for township residents.

Klinepeter said the township will receive a letter with the updated maps and the board will have 180 days from the date of that letter to update the ordinance.

In addition, the board:

— Approved payment of $31.95 per month to Earthlink for hosting the township's Web site.

— Approved an undisclosed amount to David Clark for damages to his truck which had been smacked on the side by a Dumpster during cleanup earlier this month.

— Agreed to hold a public hearing next month regarding zoning ordinance changes.

— Agreed to sign a contract for a portable toilet at Eagle's Nest, Routes 11/15.

— Approved a request from Susquenita Area Soccer Youth to put an underground holding tank for the concession stand.